Ring buoy life preserver



July 2, 1963 s. BAIER 2 3,095,586

RING BUOY LIFE PRESERVER Filed April 22, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. LUDWIG S. BAIER ATTORNEYS July 2, 1963 s. BAIER 3,095,586

RING BUOY LIFE PRESERVER Filed April 22, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

LUDWIG S. BAIER ATTORNEY United States Patent RHNG RUBY LIFE PRESERVER Ludwig S. Baler, 4538 SW. Macadam Ave., Portland 1, Greg.

Filed Arm-22, 1959, Ser. No. 808,272 2 Claims. (Cl. 9-340) This invention relates to improvements in life preservers of the ring buoy type.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior application Serial No. 490,921, filed February 28, 1955, now abandoned.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved ring buoy life preserver which has simple structure and can be manufactured at low cost.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a life preserver which is light in weight; which has a high degree of buoyancy and improved structural strength; which is substantially permanent in nature, being resistant .to marine action or electrolysis; and which utilizes a buoyant material of rigid structure which is water resistant and comprises a plurality of non-interconnected cells whereby the buoyancy is not impaired by breakage or puncture.

The foregoing objects are accomplished by a life preserver structure utilizing a foamed plastic core provided with a cover of resin impregnated fiber glass. The cover comprises two molded members having overlapping side portions which permit the two members to be adhesively secured together. The body portion thus formed is provided with a plurality of replaceable beckets or straps each having a loop intermediate its ends for receiving a grab line. The ends of the straps are laced together for tightly engaging the body portion.

A second embodiment utilizes a foamed plastic core provided with a cover of rubber. The cover is molded as a single piece in the general shape of an automobile tire having overlapping side portions which are adhesively secured together on the inside of the ring.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the invention may take other forms and that all such modifications and variations within the scope of the appended claims, which will occur to persons skilled in the art, are included in the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of one form of life preserver embodying the principles of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1, showing in particular the structure of the body portion of the preserver;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the lace joint for the grab line straps;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the body portion showing the plastic core and cover members prior to assembly;

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view of a mold for forming a rubber cover for a foamed plastic core member;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view showing how the core member is inserted in the rubber cover;

FIGURE 7 is a plan View of the complete life pre-. server after assembly, as shown in FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a crosssectional view on the line 8'8 of FIGURE 7i Referring specifically to the drawings, the life preserver shown in FIGURES 14 comprises, in general, a body core member 19, a pair of cover members 11 and 12 3,095,586 Patented July 2, 1963 2 comprising a shell for the core 10, a plurality of straps or beckets 13, and a grab line or hand rope 14.

The core member is made of pro-expanded styrene plastic which is molded into an annular shape in an autoclave under steam pressure. This process forms a one-piece core possessing the characteristic of plastic foam having a large number of very small non-interconnected hollow cells providing great buoyancy and light weight. This particular plastic is especially suitable because of its rigidity and buoyancy and also because of its moisture resistance whereby if water should penetrate the cover members 11 or 12 for any reason, the buoyancy qualities of the life preserver will not be impaired. Expanded styrene of the type described weighs less than three pounds per cubic foot which is much less than the conventional cork material. Other features desired are that the foamed material be resistant to marine action or electrolysis. Other types of plastic foam now available may possess the above advantages and the invention is not to be limited to the use of styrene.

The core 10 is covered by the members 11 and 12 which are channel-shaped in cross section and are of a predetermined size to fit the core 10. Cover member 12 is formed with offset lips 16 for overlapping a portion of the cover member 11, best seen in FIGURE 2. The members -11 and 12 are rigid, and, preferably, comprise a polyester resin impregnated fiber glass mat molded and cured in a hot press. The resulting cover shells, though relatively thin, are quite strong and durable, particularly after assembly in snug engagement with the core ring 10. Shells made and assembled in this manner possess sufficient strength in a thickness of only inch which is very economical of material.

In assembling the body portion of the life preserver,"

the inner surfaces of the two members 11 and 12 are coated with a suitable adhesive to bond the core 10 firmly thereto. Adhesive is also applied to the overlapping portions of the cover members to bond these two members together to form an integral shell. The bonding surfaces between the members 11 and 12 and the core and between the overlapping portions of the cover members are coated with the adhesive prior to assembly of the parts, the adhesive preferably being a suitable resin such as epoxy which will not shrink, soften or dissolve the plastic used for the core and cover members.

The improved structural rigidity of the buoy shown in FIGURES 1-4 is accomplished by the combined strength of the shell members 11, 12 and the core member 10. If the shell members were not secured to the core member, tiey would be collapsible or breakable and if the core did not have the shell secured thereto, it would not be capable of withstanding abrasive and other forces which may be likely to act thereon. However, as stated, a combination rigid core and shell, securely bonded together, make for a structural unit capable of resisting forces or conditions to which it may normally be subjected.

Straps 13 comprise strips of material which have loops 17 formed intermediate their ends by means of stitching 18. The ends of the straps are provided with a plurality of brass eyelets 20 for receiving a lace 21 adapted tightly to bind the straps around the body portion of the life pre-' server, the ends of lace 21 being tied in a suitable knot 24. The straps 13 are treated to impart water repellent and mildew resistant characteristics thereto and lacing 21 may be similarly treated to prolong the life thereof. The

ends of the straps are folded back and stitched at 22 to i provide a double thickness for anchoring the brass eyelets 20.

In the assembly of the device, means must be included to prevent relative movement between the straps 13 and the life preserver casing. A spot or two of beeswax on the casing under each strap is found to be effective to keep the strap from slipping on the smooth casing without interfering with its removal when necessary.

The grab line 14 is carried in the loops 17 of the straps,

and is of a length greater than the peripheral dimension of the body portion so as to provide slack between the straps. The rope is treated with a preservative of a suitable type to prolong its life against exposure to marine an.

The life preserver just described thus presents an improved structure which is light in weight, fire retardant, highly buoyant, economical to manufacture, of long life due to the permanency of the plastic used, and unsinkable from ordinary causes. Although it is unlikely that the present preserver will be punctured by normal shipboard activity, if such puncture should occur the buoyancy thereof will not be materially impaired, and the only result would be to mar the appearance. The foamed plastic used is substantially permanent in nature, and the straps and grab line will last for indefinite periods if properly treated, although these members may easily be replaced at relatively small expense when necessary. The main parts, being of plastic, are not subject to corrosion, rotting or mildew and any color incorporated in the plastic shells is substantially permanent without any painting or other maintenance being required.

Although the shell and core members have been described as rigid, it is to be understood that they are not hard and inflexible in a brittle sense. The shell, especially, must have good resistance to impact without cracking or breaking and the complete device must possess sufficient toughness and resilience to withstand the conventional drop test without damage. The degree of rigidity need only be sutficient to maintain the form and shape of the device under the stresses of normal use and the conventional tests for such equipment. The term substantially rigid is employed in the appended claims to define the foregoing qualities.

Modification in FIGURES 5 t 8 FIGURE illustrates a mold for forming a rubber cover for a foamed plastic core of elliptical cross section. The mold members 30 and 31 are recessed at 32 to receive and clamp the tongue or flange 33 of a core member 34 in order to support the latter in spaced relation from the walls of mold cavity 35. The mold cavity is then filled with neoprene or other suitable rubber around the core 34 to form a flexible cover 36 in the general shape of a tire casing.

Core 34 and lower mold member 31 preferably have offset portions at 37 to form an offset marginal lip 40 which may be lapped over and adhesively united with the opposite marginal edge 41. Lip 40 and edge portion 41 are separated in the mold by the core tongue 33 so that these parts will not be united in the mold. The plastic core a, which is of the same material as the core 10 in FIGURE 4, may be inserted within the cover 36 by stretching one side of the latter over the core, as shown in FIGURE 6. After the core has been inserted in cover 36, the lip 40 is cemented over edge portion 41 to completely enclose and seal in the core 100. If desired, additional adhesive may be applied inside the cover to unite the cover to the core member over either portions or the whole of its area.

The becket straps -13a may be laced on the ring buoy as shown in FIGURE 3 or they may be stitched together according to conventional practice on cork ring buoys. Grab rope 14a preferably has its ends connected together by a crimped ferrule 45 which may be formed of suitable metal tubing, such as aluminum.

Thus, the cover 36 is molded in one piece to reduce the cost of both molding and fabrication since there is only one seam to secure. There is a further advantage in the fact that the edges 40 and 41 to be united are flexible whereby they may readily be pressed together against the rigid core 10a in a tight and secure joint without requiring a high degree of precision in molding. The lapping of the edges provides a degree of adjustability insuring that the cover will in all cases fit the core snugly regardless of variations in the core and cover members such as often result from shrinkage in the molds and other causes. The core 10a has ample strength and rigidity for the purpose but lacks sufiicient abrasion resistance for good durability without the protection of a tough cover. The flexible rubber cover 36 is supported and maintained in its proper shape by the core and provides the necessary abrasion resistance and general durability under all the ordinary conditions of normal use.

If desired, the single joint or seam in the molded cover may be disposed around the outer margin of the ring buoy, such joint preferably having adhesively secured overlapped edges the same as shown at 40, 41, around the inner margin. Such form of construction does not require the cover to be stretched over the core as shown in FIGURE 6 whereby the cover then needs only to be flexible and is not required to be elastic.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A ring buoy life preserver comprising a substantially rigid core member pre-formed in an annular shape from a foamed plastic material having cellular structure for providing buoyancy, a pair of relatively thin channelshaped substantially rigid shell members of plastic material adhesively secured to said core member to produce r in combination with said core member a structurally strong body member, one of said shell members having offset lips overlapping and adhesively secured to a portion of said other shell member, a plurality of straps secured around said body portion in frictional engagement therewith and having loops intermediate their ends disposed on the peripheral edge of said body portion, lace means between said strap ends for binding said straps on said body portion, and a grab line secured in said loops.

2. A ring buoy life preserver comprising a substantially rigid annular core pre-formed in one piece of molded plastic material having a cellular structure of low density, and a relatively thin two-piece substantially rigid plastic shell enclosing and adhesively secured to said core, said shell comprising a pair of pre-formed circular shell members of channel shape in cross section adhesively secured together by lap joints extending around the inner and outer margins of the buoy, each of said shell members being molded of resin-impregnated fiber glass.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,201,556 Chlumsky Oct. 17, 1916 1,297,665 Edmonds Mar. 18, 1919 1,831,472 Abramowitz Nov. 10, 1931 2,105,110 Driscoll Jan. 11, 1938 2,246,108 Sermon June 17, 1941 2,344,652 Spanner Mar. 21, 1944 2,389,729 Howland Nov. 27, 1945 2,482,074 Stephens Sept. 13, 1949 2,529,961 Phillips Nov. 14, 1950 2,559,977 Lundborg July 10, 1951 2,660,194 Hoflman Nov. 24, 1953 OTHER REFERENCES Popular Mechanics, page 129, June 1956. 

2. A RING BUOY LIFE PRESERVER COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID ANNULAR CORE PRE-FORMED IN ONE PIECE OF MOLDED PLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING A CELLULAR STRUCTURE OF LOW DENSITY, AND A RELATIVELY THIN TWO-PIECE SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID PLASTIC SHELL ENCLOSING AND ADHENSIVELY SECURED TO SAID CORE, SAID SHELL COMPRISING A PAIR OF PRE-FORMED CIRCULAR SHELL MEMBERS OF CHANNEL SHAPE IN CROSS SECTION ADHENSIVELY SECURED TOGETHER BY LAP JOINTS EXTENDING AROUND THE INNER AND OUTER MARGINS OF THE BUOY, EACH OF SAID SHELL MEMBERS BEING MOLDED OF RESIN-IMPREGNATED FIBER GLASS. 